Originally published at: https://pistolsfiringblog.com/osu-baseball-cowboys-lose-11-1-in-bedlam/
‘Really no one phase of the game where we were as competitive as necessary to win the game, pure and simple.’
Fire Josh now. How long is this going to go on, Chad?
2 Likes
What a rough year for OSU athletics. The only sports I can think of that haven’t been disappointing are WBB, with caveat and Wrestling, without caveat
1 Like
It’ll go on as long as Chad allows it. Until Chad is voted out by BOR or however that works. I agree with you. Josh needs to go. O’Brate is a palace, the fans are showing up, No excuses for being embarrassed like that. Maybe it lights a fire under some folks, but I doubt it.
2 Likes
Honestly asking here. What are the reason/reasons why you feel Josh should be fired? What are your expectations for the OSU baseball program?
Oklahoma State has the potential (proven before) that we can be a national contender. We should make it to Supers more often and CWS every now and then…maybe 1 to 2 times every 5 years. Josh doesn’t have the vision to get us there. We are wasting O’Brate.
Butts in the seats is the only expectations for any OSU program. When the attedance at basketball games got dismal, they made a change. Josh has won the conference so he’s safe for life. He should be able to talk about the fans that gripe don’t pay their bills.
I said this in the diamond sports update from over the weekend. Baseball right now is where football was last season. Coming off playing in the conference championship, highly rated pre-season, projected to win the conference, and incapable assistants. Chad needs to tell Josh to get rid of Rob (that first inning recap is enough proof of that), bring in some young assistants, and then Chad needs to let Josh know he’s on the hot seat for next season. Sub-.500 in play and conference, 1 series win, 2 total away wins, one super, two regionals, and no trips to Omaha (only one in Josh’s tenure) since O’Brate is not acceptable.
The iron was hot after O’Brate and we whiffed. It’s gonna take a revitalization. My suggestions is new, young blood on the coaching staff (peep wrestling).
2 Likes
“Oklahoma State has the potential (proven before) that we can be a national contender” I agree. I think they are a national contender. So we agree…I think?
“We should make it to Supers more often and CWS every now and then…maybe 1 to 2 times every 5 years” If you want to argue that he needs to make the Supers more, I will agree. But the CWS 2 of 5…thats not happening. Texas is the leader in CWS trips with 38 over the 77 year history. Thats a trip every 2yrs. Miami is next with going once every 3 years. So setting the expectation at going to Omaha more than what the 2nd most successful program in history has…is unrealistic.
“Josh doesn’t have the vision to get us there” Im not sure what this means? Explain
“We are wasting O’Brate.” I hate this argument I hear by OSU people. This is out of touch with what college sports are in the NIL era. Facilities matter less today than they ever have. Listen, O’Brate is a palace. No argument at all. But, that palace isnt something that really tips the scale in this era. The Conf hurts. The lack of NIL hurts. Go look at Wichita St. That place is nicer than anything this side of the SEC thats not named O’Brate…& they cant do anything.
Why does O’Brate have any effect on where the program should be? If the stadium/venue you play in matters, then how did they win while playing in Allie P?
Golf.
2 Likes
I tuned into the game about 15 mins after it started: down 5-0 already.
I clicked off. Admittedly, I came back a couple of times and TRIED to watch.
But it was UNWATCHABLE. We are awful.
1 Like
1 trip to Omaha in 13 seasons. Reason enough there based on history.
When you are clinging to your post-season life, with winnable series coming up to right the ship, you DON’T get embarrassed by your in-state rival at home in the only matchup this season. 3 or 4 errors per game the past 3 games. The team’s horrible batting average has been coming down the pipe for a while now due to Joh’s long-ball philosophy.
The refusal to get rid of Rob Walton. I know you have stated that hitting is a bigger problem than pitching for the Pokes, but pitching is becoming just as big a problem. A guy gives up 5 runs in the first inning before you pull him? Make it make sense. Rob at times has a hard time finding and settling on a pitching rotation.
My expectation for the program: Omaha every 3 years. Make it past the first round when you get there.
Try to talk me off the cliff. Ketch. I’m here for it.
1 Like
“1 trip to Omaha in 13 seasons”… I dont agree, but that is a legitimate argument that makes sense. I have no issue if thats your reason for wanting a change.
“When you are clinging to your post-season life, with winnable series coming up to right the ship, you DON’T get embarrassed by your in-state rival at home in the only matchup this season.” This is a little rash. Even though mid-week games really dont matter, Josh has owned OU. Your record against a rival in a midweek baseball game shouldnt matter one bit. Thats a reason given by a fan who apparently hates OU. Be better than that.
“Joshs long-ball philosophy” I wont argue that. I dont disagree.
“The refusal to get rid of Rob Walton. I know you have stated that hitting is a bigger problem than pitching for the Pokes, but pitching is becoming just as big a problem. A guy gives up 5 runs in the first inning before you pull him? Make it make sense” Just to be clear, im not against someone who wants to make a change with Rob or Josh. Im just tired of the lazy argument from some that its all Rob. As for last night leaving a guy in. Listen, mid-week arms are not weekend arms. Mid-week bullpens are not weekend bullpens. The Cowboys need Conf W’s more than they need midweek ones. Once that got outta hand in the 1st inning, you dont go spending good bullets on trying to get it back. I have no issue at all with how the pitching was used last night or any midweek to be honest. You start a "Nobody’ or someone that youre experimenting with. If youre up, you can use a better bullet to grab a W. If youre not, you just have to roll with it. Id be more upset that OU’s midweek guys help my lineup to 4 hits.
“Omaha every 3 years. Make it past the first round when you get there” If thats the bar, then you need to fire Josh now and every other coach that you hire from here on out. Omaha every 3 years is on pace to make you the 2nd most successful program in college baseball history (behind Texas). When OSU was rolling, there were about 25 programs in the country who really gave a dump about baseball. That is not the case anymore. You guys cant be mad at Josh for clinging to the old way…if you guys are clinging to it as well. I agree 100% that he should be knocking on the poststeason door more than he has. I agree that getting to more Supers should be expected. But Omaha every 3 years is not happening for OSU in this Conf, with no real NIL.
O’Brate absolutely matters. Based on your comment you’re only thinking of O’Brate in terms of the stadium that the game is played in. O’Brate is much more than that. Allie P. pales in comparison to O’Brate when considering the facility as a whole. Indoor and outdoor training areas and state of the art data pulling cages, to name a few. All these resources that were put in to better develop players and we we’ve declined in Josh’s post season production since leaving Allie P. Absolutely it matters. At $60M it better matter!
1 Like
How does O’Brate help the OSU program win more games or attract better recruits than their competitors?
“Indoor and outdoor training areas and state of the art data pulling cages, to name a few.” Who doesnt have those things that OSU is trying to compete with? Have you seen inside what Wichita St has? Have you been to KState and seen their facilities? the list goes on and on, not to even mention the SEC. During the 9 innings of play, there is no nicer place than O’Brate. But EVERYONE has facilities. Youre comparing O’Brate to Allie P…thats not a comparison. What I said was facilities dont matter near as much as they once did.
We needed the momentum that a W would’ve given us. OU is a top 15 or so team right now. OSU (the pre-season pick to win the conference) is unranked. Even though it’s mid-week, starters are different on the mound, different conference…all the factors you listed, we still needed that one for any type of momentum.
I know it comes across that I blame Rob too much. Probably I’m guilty. Josh is just as much a problem. Maybe more so for letting it reach this point.
When you don’t have NIL, facilities matter. When you don’t get paid much, your working environment better be elite. O’Brate is. The flip side is that people will take a job in a ditch for a ton of money.
The issue with NIL is that no one wants to give to a program stuck on cruise control (see also: football, men’s basketball). Gundy has done an about-face on NIL, but it’s probably too little too late. I never hear Josh talk NIL. Maybe I’m just missing it when he mentions it. Lutz has a chance to turn it around and get NIL going…maybe.
In general, I just think it’s time. The program needs young blood with fresh ideas much like football. When you let an alum coach, and you hang on too long, it’s a problem.
1 Like
You beat NDS in a midweek…then lost the series to Utah. You beat Wichita St midweek, then got swept by KU. You lost to Missouri St…then swept KState. MIDWEEKS DONT MATTER.
You guys thinking O’Brate somehow efffects recruiting are just flat wrong. I say that very respectfully. Its a palace. Anyone would love to play there. But the % of how that effects your ability to recruit is a nothing-burger.
I dont like sounding like “that guy”, but im going to. I have first hand knowledge of how the recruiting world works. And NIL is absolutely a factor. For example, OU has around $500k that they use in NIL for baseball. The rest of the SEC averages around $3.5 million. I dont know for sure what OSU baseball has, but I can guarantee you its nowhere close to what it needs to be to win in this Conf. Kids want to play with good guys and against good ones. This Conf is no longer a destination and it will continue to go that way. The biggest criticism to me is the recruiting strategy employed by Josh & Co. He keeps mor OK kids on the roster that will never play there. They will never help. He needs to portal HARD and preach development over dollars. KU & KState are going hard after the JUCO ranks (specifically in KS). Josh hasnt been willing to dip to that level as they think its “beneath” the program. If someone wants to drill Josh…thats where you need to start.
1 Like
I was only using O’Brate as a timeline in my initial post. You were the one that brought up Allie P.
I never compared O’Brate to other team’s facilities nor am I now so I don’t know why you’re getting worked up. All I am saying is, as much as it cost and all it’s capable of you don’t think Chad and the admin are saying, we built this state of the art facility and we haven’t gotten a good return on investment in terms of production? Of course they are.
I brought up Allie P to show how success doesnt have anything to do with facilities. If that was the case, OSU wouldnt have won as much as they did when Allie P was their home. “Worked up”…dude I am quite the opposite of worked up.
“And all its capable of”…what is the stadium “capable of”? What does that mean? That crowd last night was very good. You said “O’Brate absolutely matters”, but have not said how? You mentioned some things it had, which are the same as others. O’Brate is a beautiful stadium. We can all agree on that. You say that matters…but have yet to tell me how? Yes, im sure the powers that be want a return on their investment.
My complaint wouldbve been how dumb it was to spend that much on a facility anyway…